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Six months later
Cyn groaned and shifted uncomfortably. She was too large for the bed on which she lay, too unwieldy for the cramped hut where Ariel lived. “I can’t breathe. It hurts too damn much!”
“Keep breathing,” Felicity said, reaching up with a damp rag and wiping the sweat from Cyn’s forehead. “I know it hurts, but you have to keep trying.”
Cyn closed her eyes and gritted her teeth.
“Aye, just like that,” Ariel said. “In and out...”
She made a ridiculous sound like hee, hee, hooooo and Cyn wanted to punch her in the face. If Ariel wasn’t an old woman, she might have.
“I don’t want to breathe,” Cyn said miserably. “I just want this baby out of me! Kill me, kill me now.”
Felicity snorted. “You’re not dying. It just feels like it. Trust me, I know. I went through the same bloody thing.”
Cyn panted. “God, I just hope I don’t have bloody twins. Two babies. I couldn’t handle that!”
“Well, my dear, twins do run in the family,” Ariel pointed out.
“Shut it!” Cyn said.
Felicity rolled her eyes and offered Cyn her hand. “Squeeze.”
Cyn seized it and Felicity groaned loudly. “Not that hard, please.”
“Sorry, I’m sorry,” Cyn said in a strangled voice.
“Ariel, how much longer?” Felicity asked.
The pink-cheeked healer bustled around the tiny, smoky hut. “Not long now. Be patient, m’lady!”
“Auuuughhhh!” Cyn screamed. “It hurts! It bloody hurts!”
“Well it’s not going to feel like a bloody picnic. Squeeze my hand, and try to breathe each time you have a contraction,” Felicity said.
“It wasn’t this bad when you did it!” Cyn shrieked. “You were bloody fine! I feel like I’m pushing out a fucking watermelon.”
The door to the birthing chamber burst open and Maelíosa stood in the doorway. She must have heard Cyn shriek, because she sucked in air and her face paled. Cyn could understand that she’d be nervous considering how her mum died. She was perfectly fit, as though the incident with Only Human never happened. Looking at her now, one would never know she’d been on the brink of death only six months ago.
“Hush,” Ariel said mildly. She turned to Felicity. “Pardon me, m’lady. I need to check her temperature.” She scooted forward and put her hand on Cyn’s forehead.
* * *
“ANY USE?” MAELÍOSA asked. She stepped closer and took the rag from Felicity’s hand, pressing it to Cyn’s forehead once the healer had stepped out of the way. “You look wretched. Is it really that bad?”
Cyn opened her mouth and a shriek of pain filled the cottage. “It bloody hurts!”
Maelíosa gritted her teeth. “Can’t you do anything about the pain?” she asked the healer.
Ariel shook her head.
Maelíosa winced as Cyn struggled and cried beneath her hands. “She looks bloody miserable.”
“You’d look bloody miserable too,” Cyn said.
Ariel clucked her tongue and bustled back toward the fire. “Aye, if things go on like this, I can give her a poultice. But she can’t have anything too strong. That would make it impossible to push.”
“She won’t remember this,” Felicity said smoothly as she took Cyn’s hand in hers and squeezed. “It’ll be a thing of the past as soon as the wee one is born, trust me.”
“I can hear you,” Cyn informed them, sounding both peeved and exhausted. “And I’m right bloody here. You don’t have to whisper over my head like I’m not.”
Maelíosa grinned. Except for the drunken shagging, she had more in common with Cyn than she’d thought. Cyn had moxie, and the woman could hold her liquor. She’d cut her some slack, considering she was in labour. Cyn frowned, then let out a wail of pain. Felicity squeezed her hand again.
“And I’m not going to forget this,” Cyn said, huffing and puffing. “This is worse than the time Nathan tried to take me dancing!”
Felicity snorted. “He was a rotten dancer. Beastly man. He didn’t deserve the sympathy that he got, that’s for sure. I worry that he’ll be back someday. Fallon showed him compassion, but I’m not sure that he should have.”
Maelíosa scowled at the mention of the human and she was about to agree with Felicity, but all thoughts of Nathan were pushed out of her head as Cyn let out another painful shriek.
“It’ll be over soon,” Maelíosa said. “We’ll be right here.”
* * *
“WHERE’S FALLON?” CYN asked.
Maelíosa rolled her eyes. “Da is outside, bolting around. ‘Tis like he never had a babby before!”
“I’d gladly trade places with him,” Cyn whimpered. “This hurts so bloody much. Is this punishment for being such a tart before?”
Maelíosa and Felicity laughed.
“No,” Felicity said, rolling her eyes. “Trust me. If it was, it wouldn’t have hurt me at all.”
Cyn stretched on the bed, pain wracking her body. She groaned and shifted, spreading her legs and arching her back as though it would do any good. It was like her belly was being squeezed in a vice. She grunted softly as another sharp contraction hit her.
“I feel like I’ve got to take the biggest—”
“Cyn!” Felicity scolded. “That’s no way to be talking right now. You’re almost through it, keep at it. It’ll all be over soon.”
“She’s right, m’lady,” Ariel said. “I want you to take a deep breath, and then push like you’ve never pushed before.”
Honestly, Cyn didn’t think she had the strength to push. Her labour had been long and hard—ironically just like what had landed her in this predicament.
Ariel stepped between her gaping legs and leaned close, bracing herself with one hand on each of Cyn’s knees. “We’re almost there! The babby’s coming! Can you sit up a little, m’lady?”
Cyn struggled to raise her torso off the bed, but everything in her body ached so badly that she could barely move. Her breath was stuck in her throat, and she coughed. Nausea roiled in her stomach. She turned her head to the side, vomiting onto the floor.
“It hurts,” Cyn cried. “Please, please make it stop!”
“One more push, m’lady, come now,” Ariel said. “Come on, you can do it!”
“You’re almost there,” Felicity said.
Ariel pointed between Cyn’s legs. “I can see the head. One more push...”
Cyn let out a powerful wail and pushed with all of her might. The pain surged through her body. She closed her eyes and bore down as hard as she could, clamping her hand on Felicity’s. A loud cry filled the room.
Ariel smiled. “You’ve done it! It’s a beautiful wee lass!”
Cyn gasped. “She’s got gunk all over her.”
Ariel laughed. The healer wiped her baby off with a towel, and then carefully handed her over to Cyn.
“She’s beautiful,” Cyn said softly, staring into the small, perfect face. She had Fallon’s eyes and her own nose, only in tiny, perfect miniature. “I can’t believe how tiny and beautiful she is...”
“She’s bloody stunning,” Felicity said, leaning in close for a look at her new sister-in-law. “I’ve never seen such a cute baby. Well, except for Kira and Braden of course.”
Maelíosa chuckled. “She’s lovely, Cyn. Shall I go fetch Da? I’m sure he’d love to meet the wee one.”
Without waiting for Cyn to reply, she took off, running through the door of the birthing chamber.
“She’s really perfect, Cyn,” Felicity said. She reached down and stroked the baby’s forehead. “What’re you going to call her?”
Cyn grinned. She was wrung out, almost delirious, but more satisfied and proud than she’d ever been in her entire life. “Fallon and I should decide together, but something beautiful.”
“How do you feel?” Ariel asked.
She closed her eyes and relaxed on the birthing table. “I feel better than I’ve ever felt in my life. Well, maybe aside from the pain, but it’s worth it.”
Felicity laughed. “I’ll take your word for it. Twins is enough. I don’t plan on having another one anytime soon.”
The door swung open and Fallon stepped in. His eyes were shining with love as he walked over to his mate and new daughter.
“’Ello, love,” Fallon said. He leaned down to kiss Cyn’s sweaty forehead. “And that’s our new little girl? What a stunner!”
“She’s perfect,” Cyn said softly. “What d’you want to call her?”
“Do you have any thoughts?”
Cyn blushed. “Well, I’ve always liked Charlotte...but now we’ve got competition from the Windsors. What d’you think about Emma?”
Fallon grinned. “A bonny name for a bonny wee lass.”
“I’m going to give you some space,” Felicity said. She stepped backward and turned to walk out of the room. Cyn and Fallon didn’t even notice—they were too enthralled with their new daughter.
* * *
OUTSIDE ARIEL’S HUT, Maelíosa stood with Sage, Felicity, Niall, Carina, and Darcy.
“They’ve decided on Emma,” Felicity said with a smile. “She’s such a wee little girl. I can’t believe how much older Kira looks than her already!”
“They grow like weeds,” Sage said, pulling Carina close and rubbing his knuckles on the top of her brown head.
She squirmed and pulled away, pretending to glare at Sage as all of the adults laughed. Carina righted herself and smoothed her hair back, a smile creeping onto her lips. Again, Maelíosa had to admire the similarities between young, serious Carina and herself. I’m going to really enjoy watching her grow up. The thought filled her with surprising tenderness. She half-wondered what it might be like to have a child of her own, but she realised with a pang that might not be possible because of Sage’s cancer treatments.
“I can’t believe it—I have a new baby sister!” Darcy said. “She’s going to be so much fun. I always wanted a younger sister. Now no one can call me the baby of the family anymore!”
Maelíosa laughed. “I felt the same way when I saw you. I couldn’t believe that you were so small! And wrinkled!”
“It’s going to be so smashing,” Darcy said. She spread her arms in the air and twirled around, her dark brown hair flying out behind her, clearly ecstatic. “A wee babby to play with. We can go play outside and read books together! And I can help teach her how to walk. And I can teach her how to race, and how to run, and how to best filch stuff from the kitchens when the cooks aren’t looking...”
Maelíosa smiled. She couldn’t deny that she was excited about new life in the castle, too.
“Y’know, Dad,” Carina said, deadly serious as usual. “It’d be kind of nice to have a younger brother or sister to play with.”
For a moment, everyone was silent. Then Sage chuckled and wrapped his arms around Maelíosa’s waist, pulling her close.
“I dunno about that, at least not right now,” Sage whispered to Maelíosa. “But it’d be a hell of a lot of fun to practice, whaddya say?”
An uncharacteristic blush spread over her cheeks. Sage pressed his lips to hers and kissed her passionately. Her mare pranced and neighed, tossing her mane proudly in the wind. This is it... I found love. I never thought that it would happen to me, but it did.
“I love you,” Maelíosa said quietly, so only Sage could hear. “I’m so glad we found each other.”
Sage slid his hands down her back and squeezed her bum before she could push him away. There was an impish twinkling in his eyes that made him look years younger than he actually was. Maelíosa couldn’t believe the man standing before her was the same man whose body and spirit had been almost ruined by cancer. This Sage was handsome and strong, and a total daredevil.
“I love you, too. Now, how about that practice?” Sage raised an eyebrow at Maelíosa.
Maelíosa blushed harder than ever. “Aye, I think that’s a brilliant idea.”
The End.
# # #
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P.S. I’ve included a preview of my Ever After Series in case you like vampires who are into a little kink and enjoy new adult paranormal. Just turn the page ;)
P.S.S. I was invited to write in Milly Taiden’s Paranormal Dating Agency world. So if you like HAWT shifter romance with alpha males and curvy women then you should check out my book Finding Her Bearing. Turn the page for a little taste...
First love + mistaken identity + one BBW Latino and a sexy bear shifter = one smoking HAWT romance.
If you liked GEEK BEARING GIFTS from the Paranormal Dating Agency you’ll love FINDING HER BEARING.
Trigger Warning: This book was written to shine a light on domestic violence and may be difficult for survivors.
CHAPTER ONE
CARI SMOOTHED HER HAIR, sucking in one last breath before knocking on the door. This was stupid-crazy, and the last thing she needed right now. How she let Jess talk her into it, she’d never know.
The door swung open to reveal a small woman, a shock of white hair framing her smooth features in a stylish bob. She was short, but her wide smile made her seem larger than life.
“Hello, dear. I’m Gerri, and you must be Cari. Why, you’re even lovelier than Jess described. Come on in. I was just about to have some tea.”
Cari smiled at the spitfire of a woman and stepped into the apartment. Gerri closed the door and led her into a small kitchen.
“Have a seat. Would you like some tea?” Gerri’s shrewd, knowing eyes measured her movements as Cari pulled back a chair and took a seat at the kitchen table.
“Sure.”
The woman poured two cups from the kettle on the stove, placed one in front of Cari, and sat across from her.
“Thanks,” Cari said, taking a tentative sip from the oversized cup.
“So, how’s your sex life?”
Cari choked, trying to keep a mouthful of tea from spewing across the table. Jess hadn’t been kidding when she warned that Mrs. Wilder was a bit blunt. That seemed like an understatement.
Cari straightened her shoulders and met her inquisitive, no-nonsense look with bold caramel eyes. “Nonexistent.”
She hated to admit it, but it was true. She hadn’t been with anyone since her ex. That disaster had ended eight months ago, and she’d moved back here. It wasn’t where she’d grown up—Cari moved here with her grandmother in the ninth grade—but she always considered it home. When she inherited her grandmother’s old, ramshackle house two years ago, she hadn’t known what to do with it. Now it was the perfect escape, a place her ex had no idea even existed. Cari had been on her own fixing it up for the past eight months.
“Do you want it to be?” Gerri asked.
Cari thought for a moment. This whole thing was Jess’s crazy idea. They’d been friends since high school; everyone else had been standoffish to the new girl living in the rundown house on the edge of town, but Jess hadn’t cared.
She was enjoying the hell out of her newfound independence, but a woman had needs. She was comfortable with her curves, her plus-size hourglass shape, and her sensuality. Cari licked her lips. Didn’t she deserve to live a little? Besides, she needed a date for her ten-year reunion.
“I’m not sure I’m ready for a major commitment, but no-strings-attached sex is something I could handle. And I need a date for my high-school reunion.”
Gerri pursed her lips. “Is that so? I may have a shifter in mind, but are you certain all you want is sex?”
Cari frowned. She really wasn’t sure what she wanted anymore. It’d been a long time since anyone even asked her. She was just getting to know the smart, sexy, self-assured woman she’d forgotten. Her ex had really torn her down. Then she thought about the only guy who ever made her feel like a goddess: her high-school crush. It was a like a lightbulb went off. She’d been too scared to say anything back then. Maybe all this reunion business was bringing back old memories, but he was definitely the definition of what she wanted in a mate.
“I just got out of a really bad relationship,” Cari explained. “I’m not sure I can make any promises.”
Gerri studied her for a moment. “You don’t trust yourself.”
Wow. Gerri really knew how to read people, in a spooky, second-sight sort of way.
Cari swallowed. “That’s exactly it.”
Gerri’s eyes lingered on her, and Cari made an effort to keep herself from fidgeting.
“Honestly, I’m not sure I’d know what to do if someone was nice to me. I have an uncanny way of attracting assholes,” she admitted.
Gerri let out a full-belly laugh, and her whole face lit up. “I can see why you and Jess are such good friends! Shifters can get their alpha egos in a twist sometimes, but I can assure you I’ll find you one who isn’t an asshole.”
Cari laughed too. She really liked Mrs. Wilder’s candor, a refreshing change from polite, superficial exchanges. “Hopefully you can find one before the reunion next week.”
“I think we can manage to find you a date. What kind of man are you looking for?” Gerri asked.
Her hunky high-school crush popped into her head again. He’d been sweet, lanky, and easy on the eyes. She squirmed in her seat and cleared her throat.
“I want someone who’s smart, fun to be with, trustworthy, a good friend, and someone who makes healthy choices. I need someone who shows up, and calls when he says he will,” Cari said, her gaze reflecting in the large cup in front of her. “I deserve someone who makes me feel good and accepts me.”
She swallowed against the lump in her throat. She couldn’t believe she was telling Geri all the hopes she’d pinned on relationships that always ended badly. That’s what she wanted, but she attracted men who were all wrong for her. She’d been cheated on, put down, and put up with shit when she should have walked away a helluva lot sooner.
Gerri grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “You leave it to me.”
Cari couldn’t imagine anyone could measure up to her crush. They’d met painting scenery for the high school drama club. He always made her feel safe and comfortable. Cari could really be herself around him. He was her best friend besides Jess. They’d talk for hours about everything and nothing. She’d always regret not telling him how she felt about him, but it wasn’t until college that she’d embraced her curvaceous Latino body. If only Liam could’ve met the version of herself that was bold, fearless. She wasn’t sure that girl existed anymore.
She wasn’t sure that that Gerri could find someone who met her qualifications, either. Cari smirked. “Well, it’s a pretty tall order.”
“Honey, what you want in a man is what every woman deserves, and I assure you it does exist,” Gerri said, her eyes twinkling.
Continue reading this story or turn the page for vampires and BDSM...
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink.”
–Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version
Preface
I NEVER GUESSED THAT I would die with a sea of faces surrounding me, all cheering for my death. A woman wearing a jacket dress made of brocade only laughed louder when blood splattered her low, square neckline. Where is Arie? I scanned the crowded club, but all I could see were pale faces, some half-covered by masks.
My time had come, and I prayed she would finish me off quickly. The warm trickle of blood ran down my neck and chest, saturating the corset bustier of my gown. It seemed like a shame to ruin such a pretty dress. Strangely, I felt relieved the bodice was black and not a light color that would show a stain.
The fear of dying, or more accurately the fear of not existing, scared me stiff. Perhaps if I had satisfied this existential anxiety with faith I wouldn’t jump from panic to ambivalence. I should be angry at everyone who simply watched. They must think the gruesome display was part of the entertainment for tonight. After the bloody burlesque show, I could hardly blame them.
-Holly, I gave you the chance to leave.- The telepathic transference hardly seemed relevant at this point. I knew if I’d never gone to the Hellfire Club, I wouldn’t be facing death now. Still, if my death meant the killings would stop, it seemed justifiable.
“No!” I could barely hear Arie scream above the cheering voices clamoring for attention. The constant drone defied my effort to form coherent thoughts. I looked up and could see him on the balcony. When I blinked, he’d disappeared into the throng. I could feel the blood continue to trickle down my neck as she drained me. Dizziness threatened to pull me under. The audience applauded her brutality as I crumpled at her feet, looking up at her paper-thin smile.
Blood. So much blood. My blood.
I didn’t want this to be the story of my death, but this part was only a fragment of a narrative as old as time. Its voices filled the shadows with whispers of legend. We are told that the damned cease to exist, and those absolved from sin are given eternal life. The damned can never be saved. They walk the earth in an eternal hell. I fear it will be my curse if death doesn’t claim me instead.
Chapter 1
Chicago
Three Months Prior
I wanted to ask the man gawking at me from behind the counter what the hell his problem was. But I didn’t dare tell off a customer when my boss, Marshall, had been such a hard-ass since his wife died. The tongue-lashing from him wouldn’t be worth the momentary satisfaction I’d get from reprimanding the man for staring at me. Nice to look at or not, it was just plain rude. It made me uncomfortable, yet tied my stomach into knots at the same time. God, I bet he could make my toes curl. I let out a sigh. It had been way too long since someone had ground my hips into a mattress.
I’m not bad-looking—maybe a little mousey, with wide brown eyes. But I make up for it with a narrow waist and decent cheekbones. And I usually wear my hair piled on top of my head, held in place with two pencils. Wiping my clammy hands on my apron, I glanced over at the man.
Damn.
His gray eyes watched my every move, and the coffee cup in front of him looked almost empty. I tried to plaster on a smile to cover my annoyance as I waited on him. Part of me was dying to talk to him, but another part wanted him to approach me instead. He’d been coming in here for a few weeks, and it annoyed me that I got these ridiculous butterflies in my stomach every time he looked at me. There was no way to avoid waiting on him, and nervous excitement bubbled inside me as I approached him. Images of him pressing me against a counter and his mouth tasting every inch of me didn’t make it any easier.
I took a deep breath. “Can I get you some more coffee? You take it black, right?” He smiled in a way that twisted my stomach and made me nervous, but in a good way. “Sure. You’re observant. I like that.”
“Well, you’ve been in here almost every day.” Although I usually ducked away and let Trina wait on him instead. Feeling tongue-tied when he was around was out of character for me. Usually I’d talk to anyone as long as they weren’t an asshole.
“What can I say? I like the coffee.”
I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks from his flirtatious tone. “Yeah,” I said, rolling my eyes. “That’s why this place is so packed. Because I make a mean cup of coffee.”
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Holly.”
“Just Holly?”
“Holly Ellis.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Miss Ellis.”
The formal way he addressed me and the cadence of his speech were strange, but charming. He folded his hands on top of the counter and I saw a ‘V’ followed by a small dot tattooed on the back of his hand. I bit my lower lip and looked away. Get a grip. He was really hot, and there was something mysterious about him that totally turned me on.
A hefty man who had been reading a newspaper in a nearby booth rose and approached the cash register. Glad for the distraction, I walked over to the customer, pushed a few buttons, the till slid open and I took his money.
As soon as my fingers brushed his hand, unwanted images flashed through my mind. I’ve always had the misfortune of seeing things that normal people don’t see. An image of the hefty man opening a door to a dimly lit bedroom flooded my mind. A woman and another man ground together on the bed, fucking their brains out. The woman looked up in surprise, grabbing at the sheet to cover herself. The man with the newspaper dropped both the paper and the briefcase that he carried.
“Miss, could I have my change please?”
I looked up at the man at the register, wordlessly handing him his change. Shaking his head, he turned for the door.
“Sir...”
The man stopped in his tracks. “Yes?”
“Um...have a nice day,” I said weakly.
What else could I possibly say? ‘Don’t go home, your wife is fucking someone else?’ Years of experience had taught me that people tend not to believe what they can’t see. He’d probably only cause a big scene in front of the mysterious man sitting at the counter. Having the Sight wasn’t a gift—it kept everyone at a distance.
I pushed my ill-fitting glasses up the bridge of my nose. The unnerving stranger had been watching the interaction with a curious expression. God, he must think I’m completely mental. With his short dark hair curled around the collar of his leather jacket, he looked breathtaking. Our eyes met and he flashed a pearly smile before I jaunted down the hall, past the bathroom, and popped my head around the corner. The smell of recirculating cigar smoke marinating Marshall’s office made me wrinkle my nose.
“Hey, I’m heading out. I helped the last customer and my shift ended fifteen minutes ago.” He didn’t even look up from the slips on his desk and acknowledged me only with a grunt.
I hurried out before he added ‘one last thing.’ Otherwise I’d be working for nothing again. Marshall had a habit of asking me to do things right before the end of my shift, or even after, but he never paid me for my time. By twenty-two I figured I’d be doing more than working at the Coffee Grind.
The dirty slush of melting snow lining the sidewalk and the brisk winter evening greeted me. My breath puffed out in white vapor that lingered in the air, and I hoisted my army satchel onto my shoulder. I couldn’t help thinking about the man with the steely eyes back at the Coffee Grind. It had been a long time since I’d been out with anyone. Not that guys didn’t hit on me, just none that I found appealing. Although my standards aren’t high, it helps if you have a job, sound reasonably intelligent, and don’t cornball me with a cheesy pick-up line.
Mist began to spiral around my legs. I walked along the sidewalk toward my rusted blue Beetle. A dense cloud cover quickly rolled across the gray sky above. -Leave here.- A menacing whisper filled my mind and fear jogged me from my thoughts. My heartbeat quickened as I looked around for the source of the whispering. Its hissed threat made me wonder if I’d really heard it at all. A faded set of hate-filled eyes shaped the clouds that loomed above. I’d never seen clouds do that. They took on the appearance of menacing, feminine-shaped eyes. Across the street a woman walking her dog looked up at the sky, a frightened expression on her face. Okay, it’s not just my imagination playing tricks on me. Clearly, the clouds had morphed into vengeful eyes, and I wasn’t the only one freaked out by the impossibility of it.
Wind whipped trash down the street and a stray paper blew into my face. My hair fell free from the pencil that held it in place and became a tangled chestnut mass that wrapped around my body. -Leave here.- The words were louder and I covered my ears to block them out. Thunder rolled and a streak of lightening lit the sky while the wind pressed against my back, propelling me down the sidewalk.
I heard the bell above the door of the coffee shop chime behind me. I picked up my pace, running instead of walking to the safe confines of my car. The air outside had suddenly turned arctic. Shit. The front left wheel of my car drooped like a deflated balloon against the pavement.
I felt a hand grab my shoulder from behind.
“Looks like we’re in for a storm.”
Reaching for the pepper spray in my satchel, I turned toward the voice. Pale gray eyes, the color of a stormy sky, looked down at me with concern. I sagged against my car, relief washing over me as the stranger from the coffee shop stood in front of me.
“Yeah,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “That’s some storm.” But something in my gut told me it was more than just a storm brewing.
“Can I help you with that?”
“No, it’s okay. I know how to fix a flat.”
“Really?” He took a step toward me and I felt a little dizzy. “Impressive, but let me...do it anyway.”
I wasn’t sure whether we were still talking about the tire or something else entirely. It felt like fog was wrapping around my muddled brain when he looked at me. I found it difficult to concentrate, but the sensation seemed like more than just the desire I felt for him influencing my ability to think straight. “Er... Sure. I mean, thanks.”
Internally cursing myself for the lack of confidence I heard in my voice, I popped open the hood and he removed the spare, with its wheel kit in the center. His pale fingers deftly jacked up the car while I stood shivering. I wonder what else those fingers would be good at. He quickly loosened the lug nuts and took off the flat, his eyes narrowing as he inspected it. His head popped up like a jack-in-the-box and he looked around as if he’d heard something, but only the bitter gust of cold air howled through the street.
He placed the flat tire aside. I hauled it to the compartment where the spare was kept, heaving it inside. When I slammed the hood, he already had the new tire in place and made quick work of tightening all the lug nuts. With the grace of a panther he rose from his crouched position on the concrete.
“That should about do it.”
“You’re fast.”
His grin flashed ultra-white teeth in the fading light. “Yeah, I’ve done it more than once.”
“I don’t even know your name.”
“Arie. Arie Cush.”
Suddenly, I felt like a silly school girl with a crush and looked away. Better stop before my gums start flapping and I sound like a blabbing idiot. Taking deep breaths to regain my composure, I looked up.
“Thank you...”
But my words fell on empty air. As I stood alone, a chill ran the length of my spine.
***
HIS DARK CURLS BRUSHED across my skin as he trailed kisses down my stomach and over my hip. I could feel his stubble scrape across my skin along with his tongue. Cupping my ass with one hand, his tongue traced my inner thigh. Panting softly, I licked my dry lips. My hands were in his hair as I guided his head toward my pussy. He groaned.
“I want you, Holly. I want to taste you. Trouble or not, I can’t stop.”
I arched my hips off the bed, my clit throbbing for attention, pounding along with my raging heartbeat. I hooked one of my legs over his shoulder as he covered my cleft with his mouth. Searing pleasure pulsed through me. Relinquishing his hair, my white-knuckled grip clenched the sheet beneath me instead. He rimmed my trembling slit, teasing me, taunting me with the promise of orgasm. And I wanted to feel his cock inside me, stroking me until mind-numbing waves of pleasure surged through my pussy.
Meow.
I awoke to warm beams of sunlight shining on my face and Mystic sitting on my chest. He purred loudly, awaiting his morning treat. I groaned. Rolling over, I glanced at my alarm clock; its red digital numbers displayed the time as ten o’clock. Perfect... I still have time for a nice long soak. I scratched Mystic behind his ears and stretched lazily, making him jump off the bed.
“I guess it’s time to get up.”
It was good that no one could see me talking to my cat as he sat on the floor waiting expectantly. Mystic meowed before turning and leading the way to the kitchen. I stumbled sleepily behind his gray tail, which twitched from side to side as he sauntered to his dish.
“Here you go, boy.”
Placing the food in the bowl, I gave his head a quick pat. Yawning my way across the cracked linoleum, I set about getting the coffee brewing and toasting a poppy-seed bagel. As I ate my bagel, I promised myself that this weekend I would do something about the drifts of laundry on my bedroom floor and organize my closet. I kept my small apartment relatively clean, but knickknacks cluttered the living room and books overflowed the bookcase to occupy almost every surface. But it was mine and there was nothing better than having my own space.
My mind wandered to the weird clouds and the threat from the night before. I’d seen lots of strange things with the Sight, but nothing quite like that. I took a sip of coffee, reassured by its warmth as I pushed the nagging feeling in my gut aside. Instead I thought of Arie’s reassuring presence and him changing my tire. I hoped to see him during my shift. Arie... Now there’s someone who could hold my interest. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I fantasized about running my fingers through his dark curls, kissing his mouth, running my hands over his shoulders and more—there was much more I wanted to do to him. I only hoped he would stop by the Coffee Grind later. Mystic jumped on the table, meowing at me. “Oh here,” I said distractedly.
Swiping a finger through my cream cheese, I offered him one of his favorites. He adored and loved anyone willing to give him dairy. Mystic lapped up the cream cheese before begging for more, but his pet human had to be at work in a little over an hour, so I headed to the bathroom with a sigh. I wished there was enough time for me to hop on my laptop and do a little research about the odd atmospheric changes yesterday, but I’d be late if I did that. Besides, I had a feeling that an internet search wouldn’t be able to tell me anything useful to rationalize what I thought was pretty much impossible. Well, at least today I had something other than Marshall’s constant stream of demands to look forward to.
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FOR A FULL LIST OF Books by A.C. James click HERE.
Paranormal Romance
Ride (BBW Paranormal Romance Shape Shifter Serial)
Reading Order:
Felicity & Niall – Episodes 1-4
Ride: Felicity & Niall Box Set
Cyn & Fallon – Episodes 5-8
Ride: Bad Hangover – Episode 5
Maeliosa & Sage – Episodes 9-12
Ever After Vampire Romance Series (Erotic w/BDSM)
Winter Promises – Book 1.5 Short Story
Stand Alone Paranormal Romance
Contemporary Romance
Non-Fiction
NEW YORK TIMES and USA Today bestselling author A.C. James writes paranormal romance and erotica, including Eternal Ever After which was featured in the bestselling Spice Box anthology. She pounds out sexy scenes at her keyboard where romance is laced with horror in hot stories of vampires and bad boy werewolves. Her stories feature strong heroines and alpha heroes, with plenty of action, twists, and turns that will keep you turning pages. A.C. resides in northeast Pennsylvania where she entertains her husband with her imaginative yarns and quirky sense of humor. She spends her time drinking large vats of coffee while taming kids by day and writing by night. Recovering video game beta tester and tech geek who grew-up going to cons and watching SmackDown. There's probably some cosplay pictures around somewhere of her dressed up as Bloodberry from Saber Marionette J. Just don't tell anyone.
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This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.
ISBN: 978-1-948684-21-7
Copyright © A.C. James
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WIP Publishing & RAS LLC.
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